Machine for preparing mail-matter for posting.



MGEINE FR PREPARING MAIL MATTER FOP POSTING.

atened Mar. 1?, 19M,

l5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. uvcwbi J. W. PGLBR.

Mmmm FQR PRBPAMNG MAIL MATTER, POR POSTING.

APPLIUATION FILED DEG.1 8, 1905.

Eatentad Mar. l?, 19M.

. l5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G MAIL MATTER FOR POSTING.

FILED DEG.18,1905.

MACHINE FOR PREARIN APPLICATION Eatened Mar, 393A.

LGQQAQQ,

' 16 SHBETSHSEBB'J;

MJ i iiILli J. W. POLER. MAGHINB'POR RBPARING MAIL MATTER mi PQSTING.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.18, 1905.

. A.) 5994)4998 Pabnteu Ma1.1?,1914

156 HEBTS-SEEET 4.

xl/@Human M KM @M7414 f www v J. W. PGLER. MAGHINE FOR PRBPA RXNG MAL MATTER POR POSTNG.

APPLIGATON LED DBG.1B,1905.

PatentedMar. 17', 1914.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

@lita/Mq OSTING.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

16 SHEETS-SHEET e.

I. W. POLER., 0R PREPARING MAIL MATTER EUR P APPLICATION FILED DBO. 18, 1905.

MACHINE F J. W. POLER. MAGHINBFOR PREPARING MAH, MATTER o PosTmG. APPLGATION .ILED DEO.18,1905. 1 ,090,499 Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

16 SHEETS-*SHEET 7.

llll ggg# Il ulmlullllllllnlu -imr a wanton Willman:-

- J. W. POLER. MACHINE OB. PBEPARING MAIL MATTER Y' 0R OSTING APPLICATION FILED DBG.1B, 1905.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

J. W.. POLBR. 0R PREPARXNG MAL MATTER FOR POSTING. APPLIGATON FILED DEG.18, 1905.

MACHINE F Patented Mar. 17', 1914.

15 SHEBTSSHEET 9,

www@

J.. W. PULBR. MACHINE POR PREPARING MAIL MATTER FOR POSTING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC, 18, 1905.

l,G9-,499. Patented Mar. 17; 1914. 1QSHBETSSHBBT 1o.

Q k .N new 77a 45%8 7/ 49366/ f @9 zaga/38 64 J. W. POLER.

v MACHINE FOR PREPARING MAIL MATTER FOR POSTING.

APPLICATION FILED DEo.1,19o5.

1,090,499. Patented Mar. 17, 19M.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

/17 E /3 ma MM xwgw @M www v l I Elgmw J. W. POLER.

MACHINE' PoR PRBPARING MAIL MATTER FOR POSTING.

y 'APPLICATION FILED DEC', 18, 1.505.

1;()90499 v Patented Mar.17,1914.

l5 SHEETS-SHEET l2.

J. W. POLER.

MACHINE FOR PRBPARING MAIL MATTER FOR POSTING.

, APPLICATION FILED DEG.1B, 1905.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

il., ...d

Z f. rid?? J. W. POLBR. MACHINE POB. 'PRBPARING MAIL MATTER FOR POSTING.

APPLICATION FILED DBC'. 18, 1905.

Paiented Mar. l?, 1914.

Il. l l I I I l I,

31 wesdoz .L W. POLER. MACHINE FOR PREPARING MAIL MATTER FOB'POSTING.

APPLIUTION FILED DEO.18, 1905.

Patented, Mar. 1'?.

15 SfHEETS-SHBET l5.

Witnesses,

Clt

moonen.

JOHN W. GLER, OF TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MOLYNEUX MAILNG- MACHINES COMPANY, OE BUFFALO, NEW" DAKOTA.

YOEK, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH MACHNE FOR IPREPARNG MAL-MATTER FOR PDSTING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. it?,

Application filed December 18, 1505. Serial No. 292.386.

To all furl/.0in if; mi/-i/ fonct/rn.

Be it. linoivn that. l, ,loiin lll. loiani, a citizen ot' the 'United,ttatis7 residing at Tahoma iark, in the colintyof h'lontgomery and State oit Ivlarylaiid, have invented cci.'- tain new and useful improvements in Machines tor Preparing lila'il-rllatter for Posting, of which the following is a specilication, reierence being had there-in to the accompanying drawing.

his invention relates to mechanism for folding' a. sheet or sheets ot paper or a circular, raking an envelop from a pack, opening the envelop, inserting the folded sheet or circular into the envelop and then sealing the envelop.

The object ofi the invention is to provide. a machine ivliich .villV automatically perform the above set forth functions rapidly, accurately and economically.

I will, :tor the purpose of illustration, herein set forth and describe one mechanism embodying my in'iproveinents, although it will he understood that. l do not desire to limit myself to 'the precise arrangement ot' parts and details, ot construction shown in the drawings. l

Figure l is a front elevation of a machine embodying;` my improven'ients. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig'. l, showing only toe upper portion of' the machine. Fig. 3 vis a section on the line .iL-3 Fig. l, showing only the upper portion ot' the mechanism. Fig. 4 is a section on the line -i-l. Fig. l, showing the ripper portion only of the foldinev mechanism. Fig. 4; is a. detail of the operatingV cam and levers ier the folding blade which directsv the sheet or sheets oi paper to the initial pair ot' iohlingv rolls. Fig. 5 if; a section on the line 7F55, Fig. l, sonic of the power transmitting parts on the right hand end of the machine beingomitted. lligr. t) is a section through the machine on the line l'i-v-li, Fig. ot' the foldingv inrehai'iisin being shoivn. Fig. T is a plan view of the parts beneath the folding mechanism. itin'. 8 is a side elevation olf a portion ot the machine, loolzini)r troni the lett` in Fig. l. ."ig'. 9 is a side elcvatioii ot' :i portion of the. machine, looking,` lroin the 'right in Fig.. l. Fig. l0 is a section on the line writ), Fig. '7. Fig. 'll is a section on the line l1-11, Fig. l0. Fig. l2

is an enlarged vievv of a portion of the mechl, a portion only t l i l anism beneath the 'folding mechaiiisn:` lool;r ing in from the front of the inailiine.4 lfig. l?) is a section on the line lil-#123, Fin; l2. Fig. lll is a detail vieiv shi'iivinp' an envelop ivith the envelop-ilap-opening and moisten ing blade in position to be elevated and to engage and open the tiap. Fig. l5 'is a detail vieiv showing thev said blade elevated beneath the liap and engaging therewith. dotted lines shoivinii' the position of the and the opening blade when the liap been throivn upri'ard and backward. l@ is a detail ofthe yielding; mounting t'or the ends of the envelop-Hap-opening and moistening blade. lfigi'. l'i' is a sei-tion on the line 1?-37 lthrough the said blade. VFig. 18 a perspective view ot the inner end ot the envelop trav. la, 20. and 2l, are details. is a plan vien' ot the plimgermechanism .for forcing; the folded sheet or sheets down into the envelop. Fig. 23 a side elevation et the mechanism adapted to grip the envelop after the sheet has been inserted and to direct the envelop tothe sealing rolls, the envelopgripping' jaws lieing shoivn open. Fie, is a sectionai view of the saine. Fig'. lo

is a vieiv ot this :riechamsm showingr the grippinikg1 jaws closed zQether. Fig. 26 a sectional vieiv ot the same. Fig. 2T is a side.. elevation ot' this mechanism showing" the' gripping liaivs thrown doivn into the position in which they deliver the envelop. Fig. 28 is a sectional view of the saine. Fig. 25) is a. side elevan tion ot' this mechanism showing the gripping jaivs open and the envelop released. Fig. 3() is a sectional view ot' the. saine. Fig. 3l .is a rear 'view ofi this envelip-gripping mechanism in elevation.

ln the drawings, represents` as an cntiretv the folding mechanism.

B indicates as an entirety the mechanism for feeding the envelops to be filled to the s.ii\'elopopenim;r and positioningpart. which is indicated as an entirety hy t".

D indicates as an entirety the mechanism vtor directing the folded sheets troni the folding mechanism to the sheetlinserting, mechanisni which is indicated as an entirety by E and which is arranged to direct the sheet into the enveleps which are held open in proper .sheet-receiving position.

F indicatesl as an entirety the mechanism for gripping the envelops after they have been filled and directing and delivering them to the sealing mechanism which is indicated as ancntirety by G.

All of the aforesaid mechanismsl are arranged in such relation to each other as 'to effect the substantially continuous action upon the sheet to be folded and inserted and also uponv the envelop so as to insure great rapidity of action, and for this purpose I have preferably arranged themy all upon a framework which is indicated as an entirety by H. For illustration: I. have shown a foot-power motor indicated by I 'as a means for supplying power for simultaneously operating the various elements of which the machine consists, but it will be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular stfyle of motor, as an of the types orclasses o motornow well mown, may be readily em loyed. I oldz'ng mecham'sm.1 is a horizontally arranged table or platform adapted to receive a sheet or sheets to be folded. It is provided with guides 1, .1, which are arranged tov be engaged by the sheet in order to properly position it to be acted upon by the sheet-directing blade for theinitial pair of folding rolls. This blade isindicated by 2 andis carried by arms 2', 2', which are rigidly secured at their lower rear ends upon a transversely arranged shaft 3 mounted in bearings at either side of the folding mechanism in the lside Walls of a supplemental frame K depending from the table 1.

A815 f3 is a lever arm ri 'dly secured at one end to the shaft 3 an u extending forwardly therefrom. At its inner free end it has pivotally secured to it the upper end of an arm 3 A which atA its lower free end has an inward 40 turn orprojection 3l.

. 3 is a spring vtending normally toswing the arm 3** rearwardly about the axis of its j pivotal connection with the arm 3.

3", 3, are arms or levers rigidly secured to 45,. the shaft 3 atreither' end thereof and en the outside` ofthe walls In', cz. These arms 3", 3, .are controlled by lspringsie which tend nortov pull upwardly on the arms and to rotate' the shaft 3 so as to' hold the folding 6 0 blade?z in its elevated position.

4,4i-,l-.indicate an initial pair of folding 4rolls v arranged horizontally of the machine andmounted at either end in the side walls of the supplemental frame K. These rolls l yare adapted to initially receive the sheet to be ffolded, the sheet or sheets being directed vbetween' the rolls by means of the aforesaid directing blade 2. Either one or both of these initial folding rolls is mounted so as' toy allow for its `lateral movement relative to the other one. Ihave indicated only theroll 4 as sol mounted, 4 being springs lbearing against the roll shafts at points adjacent to theirbearings andadapted to press the roll .65 4 yvelelinglyA into engagement with its' coolperating roll 4.. The supplemental frame for the folding mechanism comprises the lizorgzontal bot-tom wall/c and the side walls ,5, ,-5, indicate vertically arranged sheet 70 guides located immediately beneath the initial folding rolls in the vertical plane-oftengency of the rolls. These guides are adapted toreceive thegsheet from the initial pair of folding rolls and direct it downward y and hold it in proper position to be directed between the second pair of folding rolls which are indicated by'6, 6. This second pair of folding rolls are vertically arranged and4 have their plane oftangenc at right angles 30 to the plane yof tangency o the rolls of the initial folding pair. The rolls 6, 6', are furthermore arranged at one side of the center of thefolded sheet as it is held in position by the guides 5, 5. At least one of them 35 is mounted so as to be capable of lateral movement relative to the otherl one and is held yieldingly in engagement with the other one by means of springs 6a.

7 indicates a vertically arranged folding 9G 'blade for directingthe sheet between the rolls 6, 6. -This folding blade is carried by a swinging arm 8 vwhich isp ally connected at its. outer end to the wall 7a2 ofthe supplemental frame as indicated at 8. 95

9 is a vertically arranged support and guideframe for the folding blade 7.'

9 are grooved guides carried by the stand- .ard or frame 0 and adapted to receive the arms 7 carried by the blade 7. These arms work back and forth in the guides and insure the proper positioning and movement of the folding blade 7. It carries alsothe laterally extending arms 9, 9, in which are loosely mounted rods l0, secured attheir inner ends to the folding blade and carrying at their outer ends'nuts which are adapted to limit the inward movement of the said folding blade.

1l is a spring secured at one end to the swinging arin S and'at its other end to the wall k2 of the4 supplemental 'frame K. The purpose of this spring is to norinally hold the arm S in such position as te maintain the folding blade 7 in front of the ver- 11'; tical transverse plane of the guides 5, 5. At its outer' end the swinging arm 8 has'a rearward extension S the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

l2, 12, indicate sheet-directing and "advancing rolls arranged parallel with the rolls 6, O, and having the same vertical plan of tangency as the rolls, 6. These directing and advancing rolls are arranged closely adjacent to the second pair of folding rolls and are-adapted to receive the sheet of pa. er `therefrom and toadvance it and direct it tothe third and final pair of folding rolls which are indicated by 13, 1'3.

At least one of the rolls 12 or 12 is mounted 130 V iin;

so as to be capable of lateral movement relative to the other and is held in yielding engzigement with the other one by ineens 01"' springe 12, At leest` one of the rolls 13 or `3 is also mounted so es to be capable of lateral movement relative to the other one and it is held in yielding engagement with its cooperatingroll by ineens oit springs sneh :is 13. The rolls 13, 1?/T are vertiezilly nrronged, as; shownl` to here their plaine of tnngeney nt right :ingles to the plone of tengency of the rolls 6, As the sheet is ad minced from the second pair o'l folding rolls by the rolls 12, 12, it is directed into proper position relative to the rolls 13, 13, by means et the guides 14, 111. y y

15 indicates n folding' blade for directing the sheet between the rolls 13, 13. This folding` blade is' vertically errunged, as shown, and hns the laterally extendingarms 15, the free endsl of whieh engage with the Wells ot' the grooved 4guides 113 carried by the ste-nderd 1G. rl`he folding blade 15 hes extending' rearwardly 'from its central portion an opernting arm or bur which ut its outer end connected with the of a swinging verin or lever 1S pivotnllymounted et 1S to e lug or projection enrried by the will 7:2.

1S is an erm extending outwardly from the lever or arm 18 through en opening in the Wall i122 :1nd having its lfree end adapted to be engaged by the ineens for operating or swinging the lever or erin. The erin 18 is normally held so as to maintain the blade 15 out of the path ot the travel of the sheet in the guides 1li, 111 by ine-uns of n spring 18". The paper guides 5, 5ly find 14 nre all ndjustable as ehown in 5 to accommodate them readily to the Width ot the Sheet 'to be folded.

The power for operating' the folding; mechanism is applied from the main drive shaft which is' indicated by 19. his drive y shaft is :ufrnngecl7 es shown trensvereely et the machine und is mounted in bearinge enrried by the frame l-l.

2O ie n counter shaft mounted in bearings at Q0', x20, the former being carried, by the wall .22 ot the supplemental toldiiiig frame and the latter being' carried by n tl-ihuped bar or bracket Q1 secured to the seid well.

y Q2 is e fly-wheel carried by the ninin drive shaft 19. This shaft also hns seeiin'ed to it e sprocket Wheel ivhieli is Connected by :i chfiin :24 to o eproeket Wheel rigiiilly se- -eured to the counter ,shaft `20.

2G is n eeinbined geni' :ind cuni-Wheel idly Secured 'to the cminter shn'ft'QO. The purpose o1' this Wheel is both to ope Le the folding' lil-tides for the second and third pairs of rolle end to transmit iio'wer ttor operating the 7fusione'pairs et' rolls.

Q7 is a eem rigidly seein-ed to the inner end oi the counter elm 20, the emi surface tree end v of which is adapted to be engaged by the end of the projeetion 3* on the firm 311, This can] esurt'nee so 'formed ne to have en e11- set shoulder i7', which adapted to engnge with the extension 3" and to pull the erin 3 forward and dewnwnrch et the seine time rocking; the arm il" in such manner us to ro- 'iute the shaft 3 and thereby cause the downn'nrd travel et the folding blade Q so es to direct the sheet to be folded between the initizil pair ot folding rolle. lifter the Shoulder QT of the eiun 2? haue etlected the torn'ui'd und downward irnvel ot the arm 3 :tor n prede 'ermined distunee7 the extension iii" on lhe'enid erin rides up over the smid yshoulder :ind the :ii-in 3 is released and is iiuniediutely swung boel; into noruml position by ineens o1f the spring D".

QS is' :i coni projection or lug` carried by the .fheel 21S on its outer side. l'he r-:un suri'aee o1 this lue or projection Q8 is adapted to with the upturned portion of the ren ford projection or nrxu S on the lever E, and when so enregine-7 to roel: the said lever about the :axis of its pivotal connection Si" so ne', to e'tlect the rearward travel ot the folding binde 7 and to cause it to direct, the #heet to he folded betweenvv the second pair of tolding rolls il. lilhen the eem projection 28 has pnseed oui o'lf engagement With the :irni S the Suid erin is et once released und the lever S drown hurl; into normal position by the spring` 11.

251 n mun infojeetion or luz@` carried on the inner time ot'ihc wheel 26. The cani surfnee oi' thisA lun' ifs adopted to engage Y'with the outer end ot' the nrin or extension it ot the lever 1S :ind lo :toreo the Seid :ii'in or in'oieetion inwardly in such nninner as to swing;- the lever 18 abouty the axis ot its pivotel connection :it 15% und to .siinultnneously cause the folding' blade .15 to udwrnce in .such iminuer as to direct the sheet to be folded between the rolle4 13.y S. The epi-ing 1S" serves to swingA the lever 1S bueh into noi-mul position :is soon es the eem proieetiou or lug` QS? line passed out ot engage nient with the extension 1S on the said lever.

il() is n trunsyersely ari-:ingedlslmtt mounted nenr either end in bearings eurried by the Wells it .ZF oi the supi'ileinentnl folder 'frame K.

11 :1 ogenr Wheel rigidly .secured to the seid Shaft -l nt the fly-wheel t of' the in ci `ne :ind adapted to ini-sh with :ind be driven livpthegezir Wheel 211.

12 is :i `eur 'Wheel rigidly seemed to the shalt 230 :it the outside ot but immediately adjacent to the ivull o'l the shoulder freine. 33, 3:1., :iro inter-meshinggeni wheele ol equal pitch-diameter senin-ed to `the roll Slints ol the initial folding rolls. h f1-Q. rfspeetiyely. 1 )ower ieMtriins'mitted trom the gear Wheel gte/the'gesfr Wheel 311- througl'i rent groeven f engaging beneath the free flaps on t-he enrelops as indicated in Fig. 14.'

GT, (3T, are pinions rigidly secured tothe shafts (56 inside of and inmediately adjaeent lo the side wallg of the carriage traine.

G8 are snriiiejinfgjplateal or lilou-lin pirotally mounted to the adiz-nent aide walls ol the (farriago traine ao afa to swing` about a horizontal aXis G3', the-',e plates brinel So ar ranged to have their under edge or eurfaee engaged by the upper aurl'aee adjacent forwardly-extending plate il or Gl of the. carriage traine. 'These torwardlyextemlingl plates mounted a. portion of the mechanism for opening the envelop, relnoiine,- `it trono the tray, a lvaneing it to the point. at whieh the sheet i5 to he inserted, and then releasiing it. The carriage hat; a tranfiverse horizontally arranged plate or platform 6l, which at either end lits in'toa groove Z3 in the adjarent wall ot the supplemental frame. L, and engages with the walls thereof. This plate has extending Vforward troiuit. at either side, relatirely narrow longitudiln.llif1 arranged nienihe is Gl and-6l whirh at their outer edlei are likewise fitted into the adjaare curved or rounded at their forward ends. as indicated at 6l".5o as to torre their way under the plateaI (38 as the carriage plati'orni starta inward toward the envelop tray. The plates GS have a torwardly-extendine` arm the upper aurtaee ol (32 are rael; hara4 each arranged at either .aide ot the inaehine 'upon the under side of the platlhrlndilie parta4 (3l` (31. and (ilt. are eeuiental `fea re arranfr'edat eitneusine ot the n'iaolnue and adapted to ineeh with 'the adjacent rack-har (32. .lhee Wllfh l-S tdtlicll' mllgt Willi the Ulli-l1' 5min are rin-ed to and are operatedhy a Surface ot theI adpirent tub ahatt oo and to shaft against vthe resistance These. plates are so their pivots, that when end ot I oi the thdrawn from enelevate the said ot the Springs on. looseliT mounted upon the rarriage is inoved to the tri'int' the'inaehine and the plates (t carriage'platform are Wi gageinent with thein`r they will swing;a down under the action of `gravity and will permit the springs 6G to art, to torre the flap-opening andinoistening blade 7,15 into its; lower-- most position. The upper edge of; the oils: portions at Z5 of 'the Yside wallsy ot the carriage l'raine Herve as. stops for the do\\'n\.\'ard traYol of the platea (3Sv and prerent their Swinging beyondl the dialauee neressary to allow the shaftg (3G to trai'el downwardly to their lowerinost positions. v

(if) arevrods or hars serured at their inner ends to the transVerSe plate (il ol the Carriage traine and extending,rearward theret'roin longitudinalh7 of the traine at either Side thereo'tv and izarrving at their extreme rear endsl short rank sections 69 which are adapted to engage with and rotate the adiacentl pinions; 67 on the shafts 66 when the said piniona are in their nppern'iost position and when the said -aeks 69 are traveling over them. lt is hy means of these racks and pinions that ther envelopflap-opening and moisteningr blade is eaused to Swing upwardly about the axis ot tho shafts G6 and then rearwardly a predetermined distance, as shown in Fig. 13, and to again ,Cryingl back tothe, position Shown in Fig. l5.

The substance jtor inoistening the Sealing cor pound on the inner side ot the tree envelop flap, or a niueilagrinous subfftanre. ma] be forced through and 'from the duct 65C in the flapfopeningj nioisteningv blade by means of a reeei'itacle or reservoir Y() containing the substance, and connected to the hollow arno e at one end of the. said blade by means ot a flexible "tube 70. When desired, a torceteed meehauiein. 'of any well known 'type may y arranged shaft ilwhich is mounted in hearinea at either side, of the hot,- toni wall 3 o't' the trough by which they are rarried. l

The ineehauiini tor engaging the Hap o the envelop and forcing it. upward and backward indie-ated by l35. lt'is mounted at the. rear end. ot the Supi'ileinental traine L closely adliarent to the point at which the innermost envelop in the-'envelop tray is held. it etunprisel a transversely mounted blade, (35 which is curved into a shape sonrewhat innular to the shape ot the odge of the 'free flap of the envelop and is melde up of a thin triangular.strip of inetal G5" banked by a {latypiene ot metal (359. the triangular strip having` litited into its hase end a duet (35 tor the paesag'e oi. water or Sonie unirilaeinons Suimtanietliis duet having; exto-ndina therefrom ou the side, ot the liapfopener gef; with the flap. either wicking, :--;u :h as ri iidirated at G5, or nome sponqy substantie whirh' will transter water or the iniufilaaino.e,I aulnltanee to the IQunnned surface on the inside o'l the loosie tlap of the envelop. M either side, thin flap-engaging blade ari iuoi'stener haal curved arms 55e which are eeeured at their outer ende to stub shafts GG which extend outward through vertieallv arranged slots 7* in the adjacent walls Zv` Z2 ot the carriage trarne.

(36 are triangular shaped spring preased hearing plates each seein-ed to one oit the. said stub shat'ts'. (563 on the outside et the said walls of the Carriage traine. y

are springs sefured at their 'front ends to the adjarent traine walls and hai'ingf their rear free ends adapted to en aleje with and hear downwardlv upon the surface ot the adjacent. triangular shaped plate 66. These springs herve normally to torce the ahattso downw l to the `oottom of the Slot Z4, in whieh po ition they hold the envelop-flapand opening blade (33 at a point tranrerst .Y

f. nl

oi" the leo 

